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Product Description

In this epic documentary series, THE UNIVERSE takes you to the leading edge of our ever-expanding astronomical knowledge. A virtual collision of astronomy and history, these dense, enlightening episodes of unprecedented programming give unique insight - through recreations and animations - on the great "Eureka!" moments of celestial understanding and into the very latest discoveries.

This insightful series gives serious, constructive consideration to the great human questions: Are we alone? Is Planet Earth as insignificant to the Cosmos as a drop of water? Is there anywhere else out there that that can support life? Or, is there truly no place like home?

In the second boundless season of THE UNIVERSE, THE HISTORY CHANNEL® takes you far beyond the comfort of our own solar system to discover the wonders of Deep Space. Venturing light-years from Earth, these programs guide you to the most fascinating phenomena and stunning events known to science.

Experience the Cosmos as no-one ever has - not peering at dots through a telescope or scanning pages of numbers - but firsthand. Strikingly realistic computer reconstructions give you a front-row seat at the hottest events in THE UNIVERSE, from colliding celestial bodies to collapsing suns, from distant, possibly viable planets to mysteries that defy explanation.

Too bad I can't give a half a point more for this as I saw the first season DVD's and completely enjoyed it. There is still some repetition, but it's a great series, and the visuals are amazing. Anyone can enjoy this and feel a lot brighter afterwards. It really is a great series.

Season 1 was fair, I gave it 3 stars, particularly for the last episode. I expected a lot more from season 2. The bottom line is that:1) Very redundant with season 12) Very redundant by itself3) Still for teenagers4) Why so many hollywood-type researchers? I guess to impress teenagers...5) Overdramatization: what is the need to keep saying how deadly is the universe, how stars are killers just waiting to explode? And so on... ah to impress teenagers...6) Is there anything else but gun and violence to compare the universe with? Ah right...teenagers again...7) Aggravating computerized music that doesn't do justice to the beauty of the universe8) Aggravating computerized animation and noise that is just unbearable to my non teenager brain8) The narrator voice and tone...again, bad and bad9) I will not finish the series and will not buy season 3.10) From now on, I will stick to BBC and Frontline documentaries

I do not like to post negative comments, but as there were many 5 stars ([...]), I think it is important to hear a different perspective. I usually agree on the comments and assessment posted, but definitely not on that series!

Based on other reviews that I've read, I will not purchase this dvd (The Universe S2). Thanks for the warnings, and the History channel must be discouraged from this sort of cheap trick. It's self-defeating.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)

I ordered this series with the thought 'what more can they do?' I seen it all in season one, it cannot top that. Was I wrong!It was even better.

To realize that the universe is about 13.7 billion years old, and so vast, that it's totally beyond our comprehension and still expanding. A truly unimaginable thought, that.There are so many amazing episodes, one of which shows the largest objects in space. They are seriously big, like the so-called "cosmic web" of galaxies, which is a hundred million billion times bigger than Earth. Then there's the fascinating Lunar transient phenomena, the pulsar planets, the hot Jupiters, the weather in space, dark matter, dark energy, and much more. Really mind-boggling stuff, this!For instance it's estimated that the impact of the asteroid that landed on the Yucatan Peninsula about 65 million years ago, wiping out the dinosaurs, this was equal to that of dropping a Hiroshima-sized atomic bomb every second for 140 years!

And another mind-boggling thought, where did we really come from...hmmn. Still, I'd like to go to heaven eventually:)

This series had me riveted to my screen. The computer-generated imagery and other effects is so realistic. It makes one feel as if one is truly there experiencing this phenomenal aspects. And it's explained so simply that anyone can understand it.My favourite episodes are:Alien Planets, Dark Matter, AstrobiologySpace Travel,Unexplained Mysteries &Colonizing Space.

A truly awesome series! Enjoyed every bit of it.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful

NOT AnamorphicOct. 13 2008

By
Dan the Man
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: DVD

First of all, let me start out by saying that this is an excellent collection of documentaries about the universe. However, for those of us with widescreen televisions, we should be aware that this collection, much like season one, is NOT optimized for our widescreen televisions. It is presented in 'Letterbox' format, meaning that on widescreen televisions it will be presented with large black bars on all sides, with the feature occupying a window in the middle of the screen. For those with 4:3 televisions, it will appear as all widescreen features do, but for 16:9 screens it is a major disappointment.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

Edutainment at its bestSept. 18 2009

By
J. Salzenstein
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Blu-ray

The History Channel knows science, and they're good at making complex systems and ideas easy to understand - and approachable - for the everyday observer. The Universe, Complete Season Two on Blu-ray is no exception. This four-disc set features all 18 episodes, nearly 15 hours of content, including covering topics like Dark Matter, Exoplanets, Cosmic Collisions, Supernovas, and more. And while episodes are only loosely tied together by the fact that the subjects covered are part of - or take place in - our universe, it doesn't seem overly odd or disjointed- especially for the younger viewers.

Fantastic phenomena and alien worlds are re-created through extremely realistic computer animation, which is shockingly detailed and stunningly beautiful. The visuals take viewers inside wonders that man has only viewed from afar, giving a close-up look at the fascinating inner workings of the cosmos around us.

The series also includes documentary style interviews with experts in the field, as well as footage from both past and current scientific exploration programs and an introduction to some of the tools and devices these scientists use to explore the universe. A nice contrast to the computer re-creations, this live-action documentary aspect of the series does a good job of providing balance, grounding the concepts and reminding viewers that there are actual people working to find answers and discover new information about the space around us- it's not simply Star Trek.

Whether used as an educational tool or simply for entertainment value, The Universe - Season Two on Blu-ray is interesting and enthralling.

Special Features

There aren't a lot of "extras" on The Universe, but given the nature of the series - and the fact that it is a television series - that's not surprising. There is one Bonus Feature, a featurette called Backyard Astronomers, which explores the world of amateur star-gazers- men and women who spend their spare time learning about - and exploring - the universe... from their backyards.

The biggest benefit to the Blu-ray release lies in the presentation - true widescreen and HD.

And of course the subject matter itself.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

In depthNov. 23 2008

By
Opusphere
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: DVD
Verified Purchase

If you liked the first season, you will enjoy this one also. It breaks the various chapters down quite well without too much repetition which you would expect in a lecture mode. This documentary draws enough analogies to relate to the layman. sometimes the Jazzed up music detracts somewhat from the seriousness of the material. For that any BBC production wins hands down. I would also like the History Channel production to be more broadminded and global in their coverage. Too much coverage on discoveries and talks from inside the USA. Is there no groundbreaking astronomy conducted anywhere else on the globe?

29 of 38 people found the following review helpful

Awesome!June 7 2008

By
Chloe Barker
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: DVD

I have my DVR set to record whenever this show is on, so I have seen all of Season 1 and 2 to date. They are wonderful! There is so much fascinating information packed into these shows that you want to watch them over and over again!